Dealing with downed trees, flooding and road closures are becoming routine for Monterey Bay Area residents. The power was out for thousands of people when they woke up Friday morning. Many were sent home from work and school.

If your body was trying to tell you something about your health would you know how to listen? Santa Cruz Dr. Rachel Carlton Abrams wants to help you with that. She wrote the new book BodyWise: Discovering Your Body’s Intelligence for Lifelong Health and Healing. I recently spoke with Dr. Carlton Abrams (RA).

Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz has become the epicenter for the treatment of mushroom poisoning in North America. A doctor there began working on a cure a decade ago after a family of six become deathly ill from eating wild mushrooms.

To find out how easily that could happen I set out with mushroom forager Phil Carpenter. He’s been mushrooming since he was a kid.

The last coastal sand mining plant in the nation remains open in Marina. It has operated largely unregulated for decades. Then nearly a year ago, the California Coastal Commission put the CEMEX Sand Mine on notice, saying it violates the Coastal Act.

The two have been in negotiations ever since. In the meantime, those who want to see the mine shutdown are keeping a watchful eye on operations.

Saturday the Women’s March hits the streets of Washington with the message women’s rights are human rights. Organizers say they want to stand in solidarity with groups marginalized by campaign rhetoric including immigrants, Muslims and the LGBT community. Locally marches will take place in Santa Cruz and on the campus of CSUMB (KAZU’s parent intuition).

Throughout the Monterey Bay Area, the Inauguration of Donald Trump has become a call to action. This Saturday there will be Women’s Marches in Santa Cruz and on the campus of CSUMB to coincide with the National Women’s March. On Inauguration Day, rallies will be held in Santa Cruz, Monterey and Salinas. Here's a list.

For many in the Monterey Bay Area, Friday's Inauguration of President-Elect Trump has become a call to action. Rallies, marches and community organizing events will be held throughout region. All will take place rain or shine.